Jessica Ansberry

Art Education / Master of Arts (MA)

School of Art Education

I am a visual artist with a focus on watercolor, acrylic, hand lettering, illustration, and mural work. For the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching art to individuals ranging in age from 3 to 100 and this experience has truly felt like a dream. I am passionate about creating art daily, collaborating with others, and inspiring individuals to discover and pursue their own creative paths.

As an art educator, I strive to foster an inclusive, compassionate, and open-minded environment where students feel empowered to express who they are and who they aspire to become. I am currently pursuing a master’s in art education at the Academy of Art University, driven not only by my passion for teaching but also by a deep and growing love for lifelong learning.

Lesson Plan Inspiration:
This art lesson was developed through a combination of personal growth and meaningful conversation. Initially, I had limited experience with chalk pastels and, as a result, assumed I didn’t enjoy working with the medium. However, my high school students often hear me encourage them not to let fear prevent them from trying something new and I realized it was time to take my own advice. Around the same time, a thought-provoking conversation with a close friend revealed that she is unable to visualize objects in her mind, including something as familiar as an apple. I was surprised by this, and she was equally surprised that I could.

This exchange sparked an exploration of the difference between what we think something looks like and what it looks like. Inspired by this idea, I guided my students through a still life drawing exercise that began with drawing apples from memory. I then introduced real apples and asked them to revisit and revise their work based on direct observation. After honing our observational skills, I introduced chalk pastels as the medium, and what began as a short project evolved into a semester-long study of still life. This experience not only deepened my own appreciation for still life as a powerful teaching tool but also helped me overcome my hesitation with chalk pastels.